New Delhi, Aug 3 (FN Agency) Shocked… devastated… heartbroken… These were among a plethora of initial reactions from the Bollywood celebrities, who seemed stunned at the tragic demise of eminent art director Nitin Desai on Wednesday. In a touching gesture, actor Akshay Kumar announced that the trailer release of his upcoming movie OMG 2, scheduled for the day, has been deferred as a mark of respect to Desai. “Unbelievably sad to know about the demise of Nitin Desai. He was a stalwart in production design and such a big part of our cinema fraternity. He worked on so many of my films… this is a huge loss. Out of respect, we are not releasing the OMG 2 trailer today. Will launch it tomorrow at 11am.” twitted Akshay. “I am heartbroken and sad beyond control to learn about my dearest friend Nitin Desai’s death,” director Vivek Agnihotri wrote in a statement. “A visionary who founded ND Studio, a legendary production designer… Nitin not only adored Pallavi and myself, but he also always helped me even when we weren’t working on the same movie,” he said.
Ritesh Deshmukh described Desai as a “iconic production designer”, and recalled his significant contributions in Indian cinema. “My sincere condolences go out to his family and close friends. I had known him for years; he was soft-spoken, modest, aspirational, and a dreamer. I will miss you, my friend,” he said.Actor-writer Neil Nitin Mukesh said he found it impossible to accept the tragic news. “Nitin Desai, our dearly lover, has departed for his heavenly home. He simply possessed talent. A visionary artist who understands not only his work but also people. He was a kind man who only wanted to share love with others,” twitted Neil Nitin Mukesh.Actress Parineeti Chopra said it was “heartbreaking” to hear about Desai’s death. “His groundbreaking work, wisdom and artistry will be remembered forever. Rest in peace sir”. Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, who had worked with Desai in a number of movies, said Indian cinema has lost a true gem. “Had the privilege of working with him on four remarkable films. Traffic Signal, Fashion, Jail and Indu Sarkar, His immense talent and extrovert personality made every project unforgettable. Indian cinema has lost a true gem.”